Yes, you can cook ground beef and bacon in the same pan. In fact, cooking them together can add extra flavor and richness to your dish. Here's a general approach to cooking ground beef and bacon in the same pan:
Preparation: Start by cutting the bacon into small pieces or strips and the ground beef into crumbles. This will ensure even cooking and allow the bacon fat to render more easily.
Cooking the Bacon: Heat the pan over medium heat and add the bacon pieces. Cook the bacon until it becomes crispy and releases its fat. Remove the cooked bacon from the pan and set it aside on a paper towel to drain excess grease.
Cooking the Ground Beef: In the same pan with the rendered bacon fat, add the ground beef. Break up the beef with a spatula and cook it until it's browned and fully cooked. The bacon fat will infuse the ground beef with its flavor, making it even more delicious.
Draining Excess Fat: Depending on the amount of fat rendered from the bacon and the percentage of fat in the ground beef, you may want to drain some excess fat from the pan. Tilt the pan and spoon out any excess fat, leaving enough to keep the meat moist and flavorful.
Combining: Once both the bacon and ground beef are fully cooked, you can add the bacon back into the pan with the ground beef. Stir them together to combine the flavors.
From here, you can use the cooked ground beef and bacon mixture in various dishes like pasta sauces, casseroles, stuffed peppers, tacos, or even as a topping for baked potatoes.
Cooking ground beef and bacon together can be a delicious way to enhance your dishes, but be mindful of the added fat and adjust your recipe or use less fatty cuts of meat if needed.